SIX ‘local heroes’ from Somerset have been awarded prestigious British Empire Medals for their efforts in the community.

The BEM is awarded on behalf of the Monarch to people who have given ‘hands-on’ service to their community over a period of time.

And during a ceremony at The Newt, Somerset’s Lord-Lieutenant, Mohammed Saddiq, presented recipients with their accolades.

“I was delighted to present these medals. They represent the dedication these individuals have given to their communities over the years. They truly deserve this recognition,” he said.

The BEM was awarded to the following people in Somerset:

• Paul Bunce from Yeovil: Services to veterans
• Nola French from Evercreech: Services to the community in Evercreech
• Julia Knight from Taunton: Services to the Somerset Lieutenancy
• Julie Matthews from Chard: Services to mental health in Somerset
• Dr Harvey Sampson from Burnham-on-Sea: Services to General Practice
• Keith Taylor from Yatton: Services to people with multiple sclerosis and other neurological conditions.

READ MORE: Somerset’s unsung heroes honoured during council ceremony

Full details from the recipients’ commendations were:

Paul Bunce
Paul is the Membership Support Officer in Wiltshire at the Royal British Legion and has been involved with the RBL since 1977. He has worked as both a volunteer and a member of staff and helped to raise over £350k for the charity.
As a young man he instantly got involved with the Poppy Appeal and was appointed as Poppy Appeal organiser for Somerset in 2006, before joining the RBL staff in 2017. Over the years he has worked tirelessly for the charity, increasing membership and raising money in several regions.
Paul has made it his mission to recruit and mentor new Poppy Appeal Managers and holds several events to thank volunteers. He has recently been recognised for by the RBL for his long service. The charity said “he is a positive and incredibly helpful team player who has made a real difference”.

Nola French
Nola is the epitome of a community unsung hero. For more than 20 years she has dedicated her life to the village of Evercreech and has been a mainstay in helping run and support all events and community activities.
Her role as the volunteer verger at St Peter’s Parish Church means that everything that takes place in the church, runs smoothly. She quietly gets on with many tasks that fall outside her official duties. She is also a committed member of the Parochial Church Council.
Although quiet and unassuming, she is relied upon to tactfully help, advise and assist. For years she was also a loyal member of the church choir.
Nola has never let her advancing age stop her helping other people. Her outreach work doing the Covid-19 pandemic was invaluable, ensuring many older residents had support with provisions and contact.

Julia Knight
For the last 20 years, Julia has provided a significant and exceptional service to her community through her work within the Somerset Lieutenancy Office and as a Civic Event Officer with Somerset County Council.
Julia is an excellent organiser and diplomat, and every week tactfully juggles many complicated logistics for the Lord Lieutenant and his deputies, the High Sheriff and Somerset Council. Her knowledge of Somerset is invaluable and she is in touch with many of the county’s organisations, to the Cabinet Office and the Royal Household.
A successful visit by the HM Queen Elizabeth to Somerset in 2018 is a great example of her meticulous planning.

Julie Matthews
Julie is someone who has overcome her own struggles with mental health to form a peer mental health group in Somerset.
In 2007, together with some like-minded friends and others struggling with mental health, she formed the Chard International Peer Support Group (CIPS). Together they learnt from each other and through their own experiences and became their own experts.
CIPS was a fairly new approach in this area so through Julie’s determination it evolved into a place where people could turn their lives around.
Julie always sees the best in people and through the nurturing environment of the group, gives people the confidence to make a change. Through her energy and dedication she has inspired many people to undertake the journey.

Dr Harvey Sampson
For 40 years Dr Sampson has devoted his time to supporting healthcare in Highbridge, Burnham-on-Sea and the wider Somerset communities. He has done this in his work as a GP and through numerous different clinical leadership roles.
As a GP he played a key role in modernising the practice to better serve the local population. He also contributed considerably to Somerset’s healthcare system, serving on many different committees. He helped to save the Highbridge Medical Centre when it at risk of closure and has been instrumental in ensuring the long-term sustainability of healthcare services in the area.
Despite having retired from full-time practice, his ongoing work has positively impacted the lives of approximately 30,000 patients in the Highbridge and Burnham areas.

Keith Taylor
In 1974, after his wife was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and other neurological conditions, Keith dedicated his life to care for and support those living with MS.
He helped to set up the West of England MS Therapy Centre in the mid-eighties, at a time when there was little help and no treatment available on the NHS. Over the years it has added neuro-physiotherapy and specialist clinics.
In 2012 the centre moved from Nailsea to Bradley Stoke and is now called the Brightwell.
Keith has raised huge amounts of money through fundraising, but has never accepted any money or expenses for his extensive work, time and commitment. Now in his 80’s he still has regular slots as an oxygen operator, gives advice to centres nationally and supports local families.
In Yatton he is known as a kind and generous resident, helping everyone that needs support. Until recently he was an active member of Yatton carers and is an elder at the Horse Castle Chapel.